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Higher Obesity Rates Linked to Lower Incomes in US

The varying obesity rates seen across U.S. cities line up with average incomes — cities in which average incomes are lower, obesity rates tend to be higher, according to a new poll.

In the 10 metro areas with the lowest obesity rates, where on average 16.6 percent of people are obese, average annual wages were $47,783 in 2012. In the 11 metro areas with the highest obesity rates, where the average obesity rate was 34.1 percent, wages averaged $38,550, according to Gallop poll results released today (April 11).

After McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, the metro areas with the highest obesity rates were the Huntington-Ashland area, which spans West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio (37.7 percent); the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway area of Arkansas (34.7 percent); Mobile, Ala. (33.7 percent); and the Hagerstown-Martinsburg area that spans Maryland and West Virginia.

The poll showed that nationwide, 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older were obese in 2012.

Pass it on: Cities with higher rates of obesity tend to have lower average incomes.